Automatic hurdle



June 7, 1938. J. B. FECHT AUTOMATIC HURDLE Filed Sept. 21, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 7, 1938.

J. B. FECHT AUTOMATIC HURDLE Filed Sept. 21, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO R N EYS Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STTES sms 3 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic hurdles of the type used for athletic purposes and has for an object to provide a hurdle which will afford maximum safety and protection to the athlete in his development and competition in track sports.

A further object is to provide a hurdle of this type which can be easily operated and may be approached from either side, also will be automatic in its return to a proper position when struck by a person jumping the hurdle.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a front elevation, with parts in section, of an automatic hurdle constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure l and showing in dotted lines the hurdle dislodged from normal position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the centering mechanism.

Figure 4 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing one of the telescopic standards.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, Ill designates a U-shaped yoke which is formed integral with a tie rod l l the ends of which project beyond the branches of the yoke and form trunnions H which are revolubly mounted in bearings l3 that are secured to telescopic spring extended standards l4 hereinafter more fully described. A cross bar i5 is connected at the ends to the ends of the branches of the yoke. The cross bar may be formed of a perforated metal sheet l6 covered with a rubber facing I'l.

The standards M each comprise telescopically assembled upper and lower tubes I8 and t9, the lower tubes being provided with elongated bases 20, both bases being connected by a tubular tie rod 2 l, as best shown in Figure 1. A pair of rods 2?. are secured at the bottom in each lower tube [9 and sleeved upon the rods is a helical spring 23. The upper end of the spring is connected to a cap 24 which connects the upperonds of the rods. to a pin 25 which extends between the rods and has the ends fixed to the inner tube l8 near the bottom thereof. The spring thus tends to yieldably hold the upper tube H3 in normal position but permits the upper tube to collapse into the lower tube I9 when the cross bar it is struck by a jumper, which position of the cross bar and of the standards is shown by dotted lines in Figure 2.

The springs automatically return the standards to operative position after each actuation.

A lever 26 is pivotally connected at the bottom to the tie rod 2!, as shown at 2'! and is pivotally connected at the top to the yoke l asshown at 28. When the hurdle is struck by a jumper the lever 26 will be swung in a yoke on the lower pivot pin 2'! and will rock the yoke Ill on the gudgeons l3 at the same time exerting a downward pull on the yoke so that the springs of both standards will be compressed as the standards are telescoped, and store up energy to return the yoke to normal position immediately after pressure has been released from the cross bar 16.

To assure that the cross bar will automatically be centered in the plane of the tie rods H and 2| without undue rocking after each actua' tion, a lever 29 is pivotally connected at the upper end as shown at 36 to the yoke ill. The lower end of the lever enters a casing 3| which is provided with a split ring clamp base 32 which embraces the tie rod 2| and is bolted thereto as shown at 33. The casing is provided with a slot 34 in the top to permit the lever 29 swinging on a pivot pin The lower end of the spring is connected 35 which is secured to hinge ears 35 on the tie rod 2|, as best shown in Figure 3.

. A helical spring 3! is sleeved on the lever 29. The upper end of the sleeve abuts a stop collar 38 which is slidably received in the casing 3| and the bottom of the spring abuts a stop collar 39 which is adjustably mounted on the lever by a nut 40 to vary the tension of the spring. Stop shoulders 4| project inwardly from the walls of the slot 34 and form guides to direct swinging movement of the lever.

Each time the cross bar It is struck the lever 29 will be swung on its pivot pin 35 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 and during such swinging movement, by virtue of the guide shoulders 34 being curved substantially in a radius struck from the lower tie rod H, the spring 31 will be compressed and hold the cross bar IE against too free movement in a downward arc. The spring thus forms a brake. During return movement of the yoke and cross bar to normal position under urge of the springs 23 of the standards, the spring 31 of the centering device will expand and frictionally engage the stop shoulders 4| with suf icient friction to prevent undue rocking of the cross bar and yoke after the parts assume normal position.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic hurdle comprising a pair of telescoping spring controlled standards, a yoke pivotally secured to the upper ends of the standards, a cross bar connected at the ends to the ends of the branches of the yoke, a cross bar connecting the standards, a lever pivotally connected to the last named cross bar and to the yoke for swinging the bottom of the: yoke when the first named cross bar is struck, and depressing the standards against the tension of their springs in such manner that expansion of the springs will instantly return the yoke to normal position.

2. An automatic hurdle comprising a pair of telescoping spring controlled standards, a yoke pivotally secured to the upper ends of the standards, a cross bar connected at the ends to the ends of the branches of the yoke, a cross bar connecting the standards, a lever pivotally connected to the last named cross bar and to the yoke for swinging the bottom of the yoke when the first named cross bar is struck, depressing the standards against the tension of their springs in such manner that expansion of the springs will instantly return the yoke to normal position, and means connected to the yoke and to the second named cross bar and adapted to center the yoke in normal position and prevent too free swinging movement of the yoke after each actuation.

3. An automatic hurdle comprising a pair of telescoping spring controlled standards, a yoke pivotally secured to the upper ends of the standards, a cross bar connected at the ends to the ends of the branches of the yoke, a cross bar connecting the standards, a lever pivotally connected to the last named cross bar and to the yoke for swinging the bottom of the yoke when the first named cross bar is struck, depressing c the standards against the tension of their springs in such manner that expansion of the springs will instantly return the yoke to normal position, a lever connected to the second named cross bar and to the yoke, a casing for the lever, a collar loose on the lever and frictionally engaging the casing, and a spring sleeved on the lever and exerting pressure against the collar to prevent too free swinging movement of the yoke after each actuation.

JOHN B. FECHT. 

